I've always preferred working out in the morning. I have so many friends who tell me they want to be morning exercisers “when they grow up," and they all wonder how I genuinely love doing it. The truth is, morning workouts have always been a no-brainer to me. I know in the evenings I’m just going to want to make dinner and lounge on the couch with my fiancé, and I'm an early riser anyway. But that doesn't mean it's always been effortless.

While waking up early isn't normally an issue for me, there have been plenty of times I had to really strategize and make a solid effort to make a morning workout happen. Throughout my career, I've changed full-time jobs more times than I could count, and some of these came with a longer or more challenging commute. At times, getting in a morning workout was tough when it made for an extra-early wake-up. I'd have to keep reminding myself that I'd only be doing it three mornings a week, and I'd get those other two days to sleep in.

Back when I had an office job, there were definitely some days I felt like a walking zombie after getting up so early. Now, I’m lucky to have the freedom to work out whenever I want, thanks to living the freelance life for most of the past year. But I’ve still managed to stick to a schedule—I’m usually out the door for my morning run by 7 A.M. so that I’m ready to start my workday by 9.

Here are seven habits I've developed over the years to make my morning workouts possible—and feel really worth it.

1. I always lay my running clothes out the night before.

I suggest even sleeping in them if you can stand it. I often did this in the winter when I lived in New York City, when I didn’t want to sacrifice more precious sleep time while pulling on all my spandex. It’s also harder to bail when it’s freezing out if you’re already layered up and ready to go.

2. I go to bed early.

It sounds so obvious, but admit it: Even if you’re not going to commit to exercising in the morning, you have no business staying up watching TV well past midnight if you’ve got to be at the office early (and you always regret it in your groggy state the next day, am I right?). After years of being at this, going to sleep at 10:30 P.M. or 11 P.M. for a 6:30 A.M. wake-up is like second nature for me. I’ll spare you a lecture on why getting enough sleep is important, but trust me, this is a habit you won’t regret adopting during the week.

3. I only set one alarm.

I’ve never been a snoozer. Plain and simple, setting one alarm, and one alarm only, allows me to stick to the plan as far as what my workout is that day. By letting yourself hit the snooze button, you’re ultimately going to cut into your workout time, making it even easier to skip it altogether, which will truly feel like a waste since you ultimately won’t be well rested anyway.

4. I always make time for coffee.

This one is a must for me; I honestly don’t know if morning workouts would come so easily for me without the promise of my delicious morning brew. Having my coffee while quickly checking emails and getting ready helps me shake the initial groggy feeling before getting out the door.

5. I time it to the sunrise.

If you’re lucky enough to not have to be at work incredibly early and you also have a short commute, plan to run at sunrise. Not only will this beautiful sight perk you up, but this is usually the coolest time of day to run (which is key in the hot summer months here in Houston), and there are also always plenty of other people around, which can give you some peace of mind if running in the dark makes you nervous.

6. Sometimes, I enlist a buddy.

You and your friends are more likely to get yourselves out the door when it’s dark if you’ve got the gift of solidarity. Over the years, I’ve also had some close friends with such unpredictable work schedules that our once-weekly morning workouts were the only chance we had to see each other. You’ll be surprised at how fast a 45-minute run will pass when you’re catching up on life. How could you not look forward to that?

7. I have my “recovery treat” ready and waiting.

If you get back from a workout in a mad rush to get ready for work and spend the next couple of hours on an empty stomach, you’re setting yourself up for a rapid crash later on. I usually eat my actual breakfast after I’ve showered or at my desk, but I know something is better than nothing immediately after a workout. Whether it’s an iced coffee, a chocolate milk, or a refreshing smoothie after a hot and steamy run, having a recovery drink will set the stage for feeling at the top of your game the rest of the day.